Introduction :

Contour Design sells two devices called Shuttle that are programmable USB multimedia controllers specifically dedicated to audio and video applications. Each unit has a certain number of buttons and a central jog knob surrounded by a rubber shuttle wheel. They can both reproduce for each application you use keyboard shortcuts and mouse movements. All centralized on an ergonomic device. The devices are available in silver or black.

There is the ShuttleXpress version with its jog knob + wheel and five buttons and a its big brother called ShuttlePRO V2. Its jog knob is mettalic and there are fifteen buttons.
These devices have been around for years. What is new is that they are compatible since a few weeks with Pinnacle Studio 15, Avid Studio and new Studio versions.

Each box includes the device, a quick start guide and a CD to install the driver and presets, which is common to both Shuttles. With ShuttlePRO V2 you will get too labels to personalize buttons. We will see this later.
The packaging is well made and devices well-protected. We had in addition a DVD with a video presentation, but it is not provided for each order. You can however watch/download this video in our Associated Links section.

Look at the complete set on a table :

The first impression is good. The perceived quality of manufacture is flattering and gives the feeling that these are not mere gadgets and that they will work longer.

What immediately leaps to the eyes is the size of the devices. Especially the version ShuttlePRO V2. See more closely with a ruler placed next to make you more accountable :

Nearly 11 cms in diameter for ShuttleXpress and 20 cms long by 11 cms wide for ShuttlePRO V2. Once installed next to your keyboard, they do not go unnoticed. In short, it's impressive ! But when you put your hand on it, their size makes sense : everything is perfectly at your fingertips.

As I said a little higher ShuttlePRO V2 can be personalized with labels that can be inserted above the nine buttons at the top with a transparent cap. Detach the cap and slide it one of the many precut labels provided. Some are already printed with text or drawings, others are blank and waiting for you to write something :

Utilization :

The Shuttle is in addition to your keyboard and mouse. It is intended to be used by the hand that does not handle the mouse. Personally I had trouble initially with this principle as I can not easily use my left hand, as I am right handed.
Our musicians readers will certainly benefit because their brain is used to control both hands simultaneously to different actions. For others like me, the initial adjustment period will be longer.

Use of the Shuttle needs above all to start learning the different buttons. The use of the wheel and its knob seemed to me more obvious. I am not yet at the stage where automation are acquired. So I'm working slower than with my mouse + keyboard that I've been using for over ten years. But I have already acquired some reflexes. So I am more and more comfortable. I think that in a few times I can hardly do without it on large editings.

Installation and setup :

Unlike many other USB devices, you must first connect the device and then install the CD. Or so says the Quick start guide. It turns out that the owner's manual on the CD or downloadable from the site of Contour Design says the opposite ! In fact it depends on the operating system you are using. If you are using an operating system older than Windows XP Service Pack 2, make sure you install the driver before plugging in the Shuttle hardware. If you are using a newer OS then you can plug in the hardware before you install the driver. In the welcome window select Install Driver :

At the end of the installation of the Shuttle, control panel appears. It's time to install the preference files for Pinnacle Studio 15, Avid Studio and new Studio versions that we provide at the end of this tutorial. These are .pref files. found in one .zip that you must unzip first.
Click Options and Import settings then search for the .pref file (you will have to do it for the four .pref files) :

From there, as well as ShuttleXpress ShuttlePRO V2 are operational with Pinnacle Studio 15, Avid Studio and new Studio versions.

Here is the detailed behavior of each button for Avid Studio (or new Studio versions) and ShuttlePRO V2 :

Control pannel :

To return to the control panel at any time you can simply go to Start Menu, All programs, Contour Shuttle, Shuttle Configuration. On my PC, it doesn't work.
You can also search for Contour Shuttle icon at the bottom right of your screen in the system tray :

If you do not find, it is probably hidden by Windows. That's how to display it :

Click Customize :

In front of Shuttle Device Helper Application select Show icon and notifications :

Now, the icon should appear and by right-clicking on it you should be able to find what device(s) is(are) currently connected, what setting is being applied and a link to open control panel :

General operating principle :

If I open Avid Studio (or new Studio versions) and I just pass the mouse over the Contour Shuttle icon here is what appears :

If I minimize or close Avid Studio (or new Studio versions) here is that currently appears while my email client is displayed :

I have given you two examples to help you understand how the system works. There is automatic recognition of software currently displayed on your screen depending on the .exe runned by this software. Ngstudio.exe is the executable used by Avid Studio (or new Studio versions) and Thunderbird.exe the one used by my email client. Once the software is recognized, if a preset is available it is the one that will be used, otherwise it uses the generic preset called Global settings. So if I use Word it will automatically load the correct profile as it exists, if I use Pinnacle Studio 15 idem and if then I use Photoshop it will either automatically load the correct profile while I do not do anything whatsoever. Rather clever, no?

Customizing profiles :

You should know that all profiles are customizable and you can then save the fruits of your personalization. Also you can create from scratch a profile. The possibilities are almost endless, as the available settings immense. There are also macro function.
If you create a profile, you can export it as a .pref file. and share it with others.

I will not go over these functions. I suggest you to read the user manual on the CD or downloaded from the site of Contour Design. It will help you better to realize the power of the controls panel.

Conclusion :

I can say I've been immediately attracted by these devices. Of course they require a certain duration of learning which can make their use a bit laborious at first. You do not change your habits so easily and you do not leave many hours of use keyboard and mouse without a minimum of effort.
I've been using it for a few days and I guarantee that I increasingly would be annoyed to do without it. The ease of use is very nice and my editings are becoming more and more faster.

I discovered that there was a forum dedicated to Contour Design Shuttle. I even offered my services to the team to manage a French section of the forum. Then, if needed please contact me there : Contour Design Forum.

After an initial presentation by Saby in October 2011, it's my turn to discover the Xpress Shuttle and Shuttle PRO V2, and to present the product according to my own feelings. For this, I prepared a short video that I encourage you to watch, to get an idea of the product. After several weeks of use, I use it now commonly, for video editing. I admit that I was not able to get used to it for other applications, but for Pinnacle Studio 15, Avid Studio and new Studio versions is simply indispensable; beforhand, I used many keyboard shortcuts, and with the Shuttle I find everything right under my finger, making the edition not only more pleasant, but also faster! Currently, I have not found any really negative point of the product, if I really had to mention something, I'm tempted to say "the difficulty to insert the label on the buttons", but very little since it's an operation to do once only.

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